Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 3 May 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Biomethane Renewable Gas: Discussion

Mr. Barry Caslin:

It will not be as easy but it highlights how important the whole area of planning is in streamlining all this to make it happen. I am familiar with the plant in Tibohine because I live not too far away from it. I am aware of the issues with planning and the complications in getting these things over the line and getting public buy-in. It is a major challenge. Many people are taking the approach of having public meetings in their areas to explain their project to the local community. In some situations, and I see this is done in places such as Denmark and Germany, community-type projects are developed around digesters. The community could buy in to the project through buying shares in the digesters and being investors in the project. That may be one area that could be looked at in getting community buy-in.